300 Riverside patients possibly exposed to hepatitis by nurse

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 25, 2008

More than 300 former Riverside Regional Medical Center patients have been asked to come in for blood tests after staff discovered that a nurse suspected of infecting patients with hepatitis in Texas worked at the Newport News hospital last year.

Retired Army Captain Jon Dale Jones, 45, was arrested this month in Miami on federal charges of assaulting three patients and possession of a controlled substance by fraud. At least 15 military service members or their relatives are believed to have been infected with hepatitis by Jones, who also is suspected of stealing their painkillers during surgery at an El Paso military hospital in 2004.

Riverside officials said Jones worked there from July through December last year.

Hospital spokesman Peter Glagola said staff identified 310 patients who had come into contact with Jones and have asked them to return for blood tests to screen for hepatitis C, a disease that Jones tested positive for in the past.

Hepatitis C is a a blood-borne disease that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. It is treatable, but there is no cure. Symptoms vary but can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, pain and jaundice.